Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-04
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
In many countries today, crime novels and TV crime dramas are becoming more and more popular. Why do you think these books and TV shows are popular? What is your opinion of crime fiction and TV crime dramas?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
In recent times, the popularity of fictional crime series has shown immense growth due to an escalating demand for entertainment but it also affecting the minds of the audience.
To begin with, as there is increasing demand of intellectual engagement, the production of fictional crime series has also been growing. For example, C.I.D is widely popular than any other series in India as being a helping hand, people can relax for a bit from their grueling schedules. Moreover, these novels create curiosity among the audience as a result it draws them with the storyline of the series.
Conversely, consuming it in moderation will be useful otherwise it can directly target the brain and it can lead to antisocial behavior. To illustrate, there are cases available on the internet showing that several people had learned unlawful method from the kind of series and novels. On the other mind, with the balance of time, the novels like “The Silence In Her Eyes” can assist in improving critical thinking of humans.
In conclusion, reading and watching crime novels for the suspense can be enjoyable only if you watch in moderation otherwise it can lead to anxiety or encourage criminal behaviour.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 197 words. This significantly impacts the development of ideas, as the arguments remain superficial and lack sufficient supporting detail. While you address both parts of the prompt—the reasons for popularity and your personal opinion—the lack of length prevents a full, well-developed discussion. To improve, you must expand on your points with more detailed examples and deeper analysis. For instance, when discussing the 'intellectual engagement' provided by crime dramas, you could explore the psychological appeal of mystery or the human fascination with justice, rather than just mentioning a specific show.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, and there is a basic attempt to use cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Moreover', 'Conversely', and 'In conclusion'. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the logical progression is hindered by the brevity of the content. Some transitions, such as 'On the other mind', are used incorrectly, which disrupts the coherence. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, well-supported central theme that flows naturally into the next.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for a higher band. You use some relevant terms like 'intellectual engagement' and 'antisocial behavior', but there are also instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'learned unlawful method' (should be 'methods') and 'with the balance of time'. The range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simple vocabulary. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and topic-specific vocabulary related to media, psychology, and societal impact.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'it also affecting the minds' (should be 'it also affects'), 'is widely popular than' (should be 'is more popular than'), and 'as a result it draws them' (requires a conjunction or punctuation). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensure that complex sentences are constructed accurately. Reviewing basic sentence structure will help reduce the frequency of these errors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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